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Underground car show turns into evacuation zone in Post Office Square

Updated with info from BFD.

An annual event that lets car enthusiasts show off their modified rides at the Post Office Square garage ended a bit early when the Boston Fire Department arrived to figure out why smoke detectors went off and wound up evacuating the garage due to elevated carbon-monoxide levels.

More than 200 Masstuning enthusiasts had gathered on level 3 of the six-floor garage when the alarms went off around 8 p.m. A Fire Department spokesman reports:

It appears smoke generated from spinning tires caused the alarm to activate. Firefighters estimate there were over 200 cars at this event. Using meters, firefighters also found elevated amounts of carbon monoxide present on several levels.

Police were called to assist in shutting the garage down. Garage was evacuated of people until CO dissipated. Building staff made sure exhaust fans were on full. Once levels were safe, the public was able to start retrieving cars at around 10:30pm.

Inspectional Services Inspectors were called to check use of the garage and permits. Once cars were retrieved, garage was closed for the night. Fire Haz
Mat Inspector cleared at 12:30am. ISD to follow up on the incident.

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Comments

What a drag.

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They seem like good candidates for the Darwin award...

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It smells like horsepower.

If they're racing in a parking garage, it's probably more drifting than drag racing. Fun to watch, but insanely dangerous to the spectators nearby.

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I never thought CO levels would be an issue with Drag Racing. However, tripping on those high heels is another matter completely.

Which reminds me... isn't there some kind of charity "Drag" race in Boston - or in the past. Memory seems to suggest. of course, that might also be too much holiday "cheer."

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So much set decorating needed for that garage for filming. Maybe power generators to run the lights etc made the CO.

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Probably the result of removing the catalytic converters while setting up for drag racing, without understanding the consequences of said removal in an indoor venue.

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Oh, I thought you meant men in heels and a dress competing... Sorry

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was making the same tired joke that three other people made before you got here. Dead-horse beating is two doors down.

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Did you wait all year to post that?? Keep working on the GED!

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That's the first thing I thought of too!

You'd better WERQ!!!!

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It was probably some a hole doing a burnout purposely trying to set off car alarms.

And why would someone remove their catalytic converter to race? Stick to your unicycle swirly.

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http://www.performanceprobe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42183

Otherwise, I'm not going to explain it to you because you obviously lack the requisite experience with exhaust systems and/or scientific background to comprehend it.

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They have pictures of vehicles that have their catalytic converters removed (palm trees imply this is not in Massachusetts).

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The days of just smashing the glasspack are over

But straight exhaust does produce the best sound. Real ricers run open downpipe

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I've updated the original post with info from BFD. The drag racing was an issue for police outside the garage. Inside the garage, the issue was smoke from spinning tires setting off smoke detectors and the high CO levels.

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Sounds like this was a legal, officially sanctioned event, but .... why do it there, instead of in some large unused-on-weekends parking lot above ground?

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To be edgy and urban?

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'Cause that's what Drifters* do in Japan in the "Fast/Furious" films.

* a style of performance driving not to be confused with the doo wop group. I do not believe they ever gave a concert in a parking garage.

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